BackgroundIn recent studies in Bangladesh and elsewhere, exposure to arsenic (As) via
drinking water is negatively associated with performance-related aspects of
child intelligence (e.g., Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory) after
adjustment for social factors. Because findings are not easily generalizable
to the US, we examine this relation in a US population.MethodsIn 272 children in grades 3–5 from three Maine school districts, we
examine associations between drinking water As (WAs) and intelligence
(WISC-IV).ResultsOn average, children had resided in their current home for 7.3 years
(approximately 75% of their lives). In unadjusted analyses, household well
WAs is associated with decreased scores on most WISC-IV Indices. With
adjustment for maternal IQ and education, HOME environment, school district
and number of siblings, WAs remains significantly negatively associated with
Full Scale IQ and Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory and Verbal
Comprehension scores. Compared to those with
WAs < 5 μg/L, exposure to
WAs ≥ 5 μg/L was associated with reductions of
approximately 5–6 points in both Full Scale IQ
(p < 0.01) and most Index scores (Perceptual Reasoning,
Working Memory, Verbal Comprehension, all
p’s < 0.05). Both maternal IQ and education
were associated with lower levels of WAs, possibly reflecting behaviors
(e.g., water filters, residential choice) limiting exposure. Both WAs and
maternal measures were associated with school district.ConclusionsThe magnitude of the association between WAs and child IQ raises the
possibility that levels of WAs ≥ 5 μg/L, levels
that are not uncommon in the United States, pose a threat to child
development.